Other Voices

High-Speed Derailment

Imagine that you need a second car. You go to a used-car lot and find a six-cylinder midsize model that you like for $15,000. After signing the paperwork, you are handed the keys to a four-cylinder economy car of similar vintage. Feeling cheated, you drive home, only to find that things get worse. You receive a notice that payments due are based upon a purchase price of $27,000, rather than the agreed upon $15,000.